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California

We've organized a comprehensive list of California nursing schools. Below you'll find information on specific nursing programs such as LVN certificates and ADN, BSN, and MSN degrees. You'll also find a profile of nursing education and careers in each major California city.

The path to a nursing career in California begins with the proper education and training at an accredited nursing school. California is home to the highest-paid nursing professionals in the country and requires licensing, registration and/or certification, and continuing education for all nursing career paths. The most common nursing career paths include registered nurse (RN), certified nursing assistant (CNA), and licensed vocational nurse (LVN).

Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) provide hands-on care and perform routine tasks under the supervision of nursing and other medical staff. CNAs clean and bathe patients; assist patients with dressing and using the restroom; position patients in beds, chairs or wheelchairs; serve meals and assist the patient with eating; and check the patient’s vital signs. Depending on the level of training and the state, some nursing assistants administer medication. In the state of California this is permitted, but it must be done under the direct supervision of a physician.

Licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) care for the sick, injured, convalescent, or disabled under the supervision of registered nurses, surgeons, and physicians. They measure and record vital signs, dress wounds, prepare and give injections, monitor catheters, give alcohol rubs and massages, collect samples for testing, and clean and monitor medical equipment. LVNs gather information from patients for physicians and insurance purposes, they teach family members how to care for patients, and some even help deliver, care for, and feed infants.

Registered nurses (RNs) treat patients; perform diagnostic tests and analyze results; administer various types of treatment and medications; operate medical equipment; start, maintain, and discontinue intravenous (IV) lines; establish care plans; and educate patients and the public about various medical conditions. Some RNs may even run health screening and immunization clinics, blood drives, or public seminars on conditions. In order to gain entry into this demanding career field, all states require education, training, and licensure to become an RN.

California is home to 97,420 certified nursing assistants (CNAs), 61,050 licensed vocational nurses (LVNs), and a whopping 252,940 registered nurses (RNs). Although these professionals reside in every city across the state, the largest populations are found in Los Angeles County. Home to 31,030 CNAs, 20,010 LVNs, and 69,610 RNs, LA County offers some of the best career opportunities and the nation’s highest salaries for nursing professionals. As of 2013, Los Angeles County-based RNs averaged $92,230 per year, LVNs averaged $51,340 per year, and CNAs averaged $27,330 per year.

Licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) care for the sick, injured, convalescent, or disabled under the supervision of registered nurses, surgeons, and physicians. They measure and record vital signs, dress wounds, prepare and give injections, monitor catheters, give alcohol rubs and massages, collect samples for testing, and clean and monitor medical equipment. LVNs gather information from patients for physicians and insurance purposes, they teach family members how to care for patients, and some even help deliver, care for, and feed infants.

Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) provide hands-on care and perform routine tasks under the supervision of nursing and other medical staff. CNAs clean and bathe patients; assist patients with dressing and using the restroom; position patients in beds, chairs or wheelchairs; serve meals and assist the patient with eating; and check the patient’s vital signs. Depending on the level of training and the state, some nursing assistants administer medication. In the state of California this is permitted, but it must be done under the direct supervision of a physician.

California’s Inland Empire, which consists of Ontario, Riverside, and San Bernardino, offers a variety of opportunities for skilled registered nurses (RNs), licensed vocational nurses (LVNs), certified nursing assistants (CNAs), and more. So what does it take to get your foot in the door?

The East Bay region, which includes Fremont, Hayward, and Oakland, is home to 20,070 registered nurses (RNs), 7,280 certified nursing assistants (CNAs), and 4,260 licensed vocational nurses (LVNs). These professionals earn some of the highest salaries in the healthcare field. Hayward-based RNs average $127,930 per year, LVNs average $61,700 per year, and CNAs average $34,180 per year.

What does it take to become a nursing professional in Fresno, California? Registered nurses (RNs) must perform a variety of challenging tasks, from conducting diagnostic tests and analyzing results to establishing effective care plans for the sick or injured. RNs must therefore earn an associate's degree in nursing (ADN), bachelor of science in nursing (BSN), or master of science in nursing (MSN), and they must successfully pass the national licensure exam. Most hospitals and healthcare providers prefer a BSN or MSN degree.

California is home to more than a quarter-million registered nurses (RNs). Some 20,070 live in the East Bay area (Fremont, Hayward, and Oakland). The area is also home to an impressive 7,280 certified nursing assistants (CNAs) and 4,260 licensed vocational nurses (LVNs). While opportunities for nurses are plentiful in Fremont, the field is very competitive. To ensure that their nurses have the skills needed to provide exceptional patient care, the city’s hospitals and healthcare providers require education, experience, and licensure / certification.

With a population of 23,670 registered nurses (RNs) averaging $83,160 per year, 5,170 licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) averaging $48,190 per year, and 8,320 certified nursing assistants (CNAs) averaging $27,670 per year, Chula Vista is one of the nation’s best places to start a career in nursing. While the opportunity for success in the city is promising, nurses must demonstrate the ability to juggle a variety of demanding tasks to land a position at a top hospital or healthcare provider. This can only be accomplished with the right education and training.

While California nursing programs and career opportunities are plentiful, it still takes a lot of work and the right education to obtain a lucrative position as a registered nurse (RN), licensed vocational nurse (LVN), or certified nursing assistant (CNA). RNs must be skilled at performing a variety of challenging tasks from conducting diagnostic tests and analyzing results to establishing effective care plans for the sick or injured.

The state of California is home to the nation’s largest population of registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, and certified nursing assistants. This means that California nursing programs and career opportunities are plentiful in cities across the state. So what do these professionals do, and how do they prepare for success?

Registered nurses (RNs) make up the nation’s largest healthcare occupation, with a growing population of more than 2.7 million nationwide and a total of 252,940 in the state of California alone. There are also 97,420 certified nursing assistants (CNAs) in California and over 61,000 licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) in the state. California’s nursing population is so great that, according to a 2014 report by the US Health Occupations Center, nearly 17,000 future RNs and LVNs graduate from the state's nursing schools each year.